Dust guard



T. J. SWEGER Nov. 21, 1967 DUST GUARD 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1965 T/zeoabre J fizz/agar, W? W Nov. 21, 1967 J, swE 3,353,831

DUST GUARD Filed July 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 5 3 527K .ZQ/fl 2i TV AIIWHIHEHHHHM ,4 m7 //'x A'IHIHIIH" i WA T. J. SWEGER Nov. 21, 1967 DUST GUARD 6 Sheets-Sheet-S Filed July 28, 1965 E NZ 5 HM U Nov. 21, 1967 J. SWEGER 3,353,831

' DUST GUARD Filed July 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 21, 1967 T.IJ. SWEGER 3,353,831

DUST GUARD Filed July 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheef a T. J. SWEGER Nov. 21, 1967 DUST GUARD 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 28. 1965 ililli i1 1-11511 sY United States Patent Ofiice Patented Nov. 21, 1967 ,3 3, 3 DUST GUARD Theodore J. Sweger, Naperville, Ill., assignor to Illinois Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 28, 1965, Ser. No. 475,512 4 Claims. (Cl. 277-68) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE For sealing a railway car axle against entrance of foreign matter into the journal box, a dust guard is positioned in the surrounding dust guard well and comprises a body member havingfrictional engagement with the walls of the dust guard well and a flexible sealing ring for engaging a seat on the axle and detachably secured to the body member.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 420,900, filed Dec. 24, 1964, now abandoned. This invention relates to dust guards for wheeled land vehicles and particularly to dust guards for railway car axles.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for preventing the entrance of dust, etc., into a railway car journal box in a new and improved manner; to hold a dust guard in a dust guard well of a railway car journal box by frictional engagement of its walls with opposite sides of a body member formed of a foamy inherently expansible material that is compressed in the dust guard well on insertion of the dust guard therein; to form the body member from an elongated sheet of foamy expansible material by folding it transversely at the center to provide two half sections and then adhesively bonding the juxtaposed surfaces together; to provide each half section with an axle receiving opening having arcuate openings therearound for receiving arcuate laterally extending ribs of a relatively incompressible support ring positioned between bonded half sections; to detachably mount a flexible sealing ring on a dust guard for removal therefrom and application thereto whileit remains in the dust guard well; to provide the body member with annular rib means for detachably mounting the sealing ring; to form the body member of parts mating with each other along the plane of the dust guard well and having projections extending from each part into the other part with their distal ends headed over to secure the parts together; to provide the sealing ring with an outwardly facing clincher section to detachably engage the annular rib means and an inwardly facing sealing sect-ion for sealing engagement with a seat on a railway car axle; to provide the sealing section with a cylindrical bumping surface and annular lip means laterally thereof to sealingly engage the seat; to provide the annular lip means by a pair of laterally spaced apart annular sealing lips in tandem on one side of the bumping surface; to provide a groove along the base of each lip and to place the grooves in communication with each other and with transverse grooves in the bumping surface for the flow of lubricant from the journal box.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in section, taken generally along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2 to show a portion of a railway car axle and a portion of the railway car journal box in which it is positioned.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 2.2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the journal box separate from the axle and showing the dust guard disassociated from the sealing ring.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the sealing ring that can be mounted on the dust guard assembly shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view partly in horizontal plan and partly in scetion taken generally along the line 6-'6 of FIG. 7 and showing the assembly of the dust guard.

FIG. 7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line ss of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the elongated sheet of foamy material that is employed for the body member of the dust guard.

FIG. 10* is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in hroizontal section, taken generally along the line 1111 of FIG. 12 to show certain details of construction of the support ring.

FIG. 12 is a view, in side elevation, of the support ring shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view, in end elevation, of the support ring shown in FIG. -12.

FIG. 14 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section, taken generally along the line 14-14 of FIG. 15 to show certain details of construction of the flexible sealing ring.

FIG. 15 is a view, in side elevation, of the sealing ring shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view at an enlarged scale and taken generally along the line 16-16- of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is view, partly in top plan and partly in section,

r taken generally along the line 17-17 of FIG. 18 to show a modified dust guard construction.

FIG. 18 is a half vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 18-18 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional View taken generally along the line 19-19 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 20-20 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional view showing the flexible sealing ring in detached relation to the construction shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view at an enlarged scale of the upper portion of the body member as shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view at an enlarged scale of the lower portion of the body member shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged sectional view of the sealing ring shown in FIG. 21. i

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show, generally at 10, a railway car axle of conventional construction having a seat 11 and an axle journal 12 positioned in a journal box, shown generally at 13, only a portion of which is shown for illustrative purposes in connection with this invention. The journal box 13 includes an integral outstanding section 14 that provides a dust guard well 15 the width of which is indicated at 16 in FIG. 3.

A dust guard, shown generally at 19, is positioned in the dust guard well 15 and surrounds that portion of the seat 11 that extends transversely thereof. It will be understood that there is some relative movement endwise between the railway car axle 10 and the journal box 13 as well as relative radial movement of the former with respect to the latter. The dust guard 19 is arranged and constructed in order to accommodate such limited relative movements.

The dust guard 19, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, includes a body member 20 that is formed initially from a sheet 21, FIG. 9, of foamy compressible material such as polyethylene foam. The thickness of the sheet 21 is in dicated at 22 in FIG. and twice this thickness is substantially greater than the Width 16 of the dust guard well 15. The sheet 21 is formed with two axle receiving apertures 23 that are surrounded by arcuate apertures 24 the purpose of which will be apparent presently. Slits 25 are formed in spaced relation along a fold line 26 on opposite sides. The sheet 21, when folded along the line 26, is formed into two half sections 27 with a semi-circular top 28, FIGS. 3 and 4. The slits 25 facilitate the formation of the semi-circular top 28 with the undersides overlying the upper surface of the outstanding section 14 in which the dust guard well is located. The ends 29 of the central section of the sheet 21 project slightly beyond the upper ends of the dust guard well 15 so that its upper end is completely overlaid by the semicircular top 28.

The body member is arranged to have embedded therein a support ring 32 the details of construction of which are shown more clearly in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. The support ring 32 is formed of a relatively incompressible material such as a polycarbonate and is in the form of an annular rib having a T-shaped cross section with a radially extending stem 33 that is arranged to be located between the half sections 27 of the sheet 21 when it is doubled over as shown in FIG. 8. A head portion 34 of the T-shaped cross section faces inwardly and is spaced from the seat 11 as shown in FIG. 3. For securing the support ring 32 in the body member 20, the support ring 32 is formed with arcuate ribs 35 that extend laterally from the base of the stem 33. The arcuate ribs 35 are arranged to interfit with the arcuate apertures 24 in the half sections 27 and located around the axle receiving apertures 23. It will be understood that, when the sheet 21 is folded along the fold line 26, the apertures 23 are in align ment. Likewise the arcuate apertures 24 are in alignment for receiving the arcuate ribs 35 of the support ring 32. In order to secure the assembly of the body member and support ring 32 in place, the juxtaposed surfaces of the half sections 27 are adhesively bonded together as indicated at 36. As uncompressed the overall thickness of the half sections 27 of the body member 20 exteriorly of the support ring 32 is indicated at 37, this being twice the thickness indicated at 22 in FIG. 10. Since the presence of the support ring 32 embedded in the body member 20 between the half sections 27 increases the overall thickness, this increased thickness is indicated at 38 in FIG. 8. The support ring 32 is secured in position by bonding it as indicated at 39 along the outer surface of the ribs 35 to the juxtaposed surface of the half sections 27. In a similar manner the undersides of the arcuate ribs 35 are adhesively bonded as indicated at 41) to the juxtaposed surfaces of the half sections 26. As finally assembled the body member 20 is mechanically integral with the support ring 32 and can be applied to and removed from the dust guard well 15 as a unit.

The body member 20 carrying the support ring 32 therewith is forced downwardly through the dust guard well 15 from its upper end to its position as shown in FIG. 4. Here it will be observed that those portions of the body member 20 interposed between the Walls of the dust guard well 15 are compressed from the dimensions indicated at 37 and 38 to the width of the dust guard Well 15 which is indicated at 16 in FIG. 3. Since the body member 20 has the inherent tendency to expand, it is frictionally held in the dust guard well 15 and thus is firmly secured in position therein.

In order to provide a seal with the seat 11 a flexible sealing ring 41 is detachably mounted on the head portion 34 of the T-shaped cross section thereof. The details of construction of the sealing ring 41 are shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. The sealing ring 41 may be formed of nitrile elastomer. It includes an outwardly facing clincher section 42 having inturned annular beads 43 that are arranged to overlie the endsof the head portion 34 on the support ring 32 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. In this manher the flexible sealing ring 41 is detachably mounted on the support ring 32. The flexible sealing ring 41 also is provided with an inwardly facing sealing section 44 having a central annular bumping surface 45 the diameter of which is such, as shown in FIG. 3, that it is spaced slightly from the juxtaposed surface of the seat 11. Sealing en. gagement with the seat 11 is provided by annular tapered lips 46 that flank the central annular bumping surface 45 and can be deformed as shown in FIG. 3. An annular groove 47 is located between the central portion 48 of the sealing section 44 carrying the bumping surface 45 and each lip 46.

The dust guard 19 can be inserted in the dust guard well 15 with the sealing ring 41 assembled therewith as shown in FIG. 8. Alternatively, it can be inserted in the dust guard well 15, as shown in FIG. 4, without having the flexible sealing ring 41 mounted thereon. Then the flexible sealing ring 41 can be applied to the head portion 34 of the support ring 32 to complete the assembly. It will be understood that the flexible sealing ring 41 can be detached readily from the head portion 34 of the support ring 32 while the remainder of the dust guard 19 remains in place.

After the flexible sealing ring 41 has been applied, the railway car axle 10 is inserted from left to right into the journal box 13 as viewed in FIG. 3 until the seat 11 is properly located with respect to the dust guard well 15. As soon as the axle 1% begins to turn relative to the journal box 13, the left tapered lip 46 assumes the position shown in FIG. 3. On relative endwise movement of the axle 10 and the journal box 13, the annular tapered lips 46 maintain sealing engagement with the seat 11. Likewise, when the axle 10 moves radially with respect to the journal box 13, the central annular bumping surface 45, which is relatively large in area, is engaged and the force incident to such relative movement is transferred therethrough to the support ring 32 and from it to the compressible body member 20 which is capable of absorbing considerable relative movement without permanent dis tortion. As soon as the axle 10 is returned to its central position, the inherent resiliency of the parts is such that they are restored to their normal operating positions as shown in FIG. 3. Should there be any tendency for the flexible sealing ring 41 to move axially of the axle 10, such movement is resisted by the support ring 32 and the body member 20 which is compressed against one or the other side of the dust guard well 15, depending upon the direction of relative movement.

Particular attention is again directed to the fact that the flexible sealing ring 41 can be removed from the dust guard 19 without requiring that the body member 20 and the support ring 32 be withdrawn. This assumes that the axle 10 has been removed from the journal box 13 to permit access to the flexible sealing ring 41. Thus the flexible sealing ring 41 can be replaced with a minimum of time and effort.

In FIGS. 17-23 another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. A dust guard, shown generally at 49, is located in the dust guard well 15 and is arranged to have sealing engagement with the seat 11 of the railway car axle 10 which extends transversely through the dust guard well 15. The dust guard 49 includes a body member, shown generally at 50, which preferably is formed of duplicate generally circular mating parts 51 and 52. The parts 51 and 52 are molded plastic parts and for this purpose a high density linear polyethylene is employed. The mating parts 51 and 52 have mutual engagement along a central plane of the dust guard well 15. In order to maintain frictional contact engagement with the dust guard well 15 accordion folds 53 and 54 are provided around the peripheries of the mating parts 51 and 52. The construction is such that the outer surface portions of the accordion folds 53 and 54 engage the juxtaposed side walls 55 and 56 of the dust guard well 15 so that entrance of dust, etc., is prevented while some relative movement is permitted as the railway car axle has limited vertical andhorizontal movement with respect to the journal box 13.

As pointed out the mating parts 51 and 52 are duplicate moldings. In order to hold them together inner projections 57 extend from the mating part 51 and similar inner projections 58 extend from the mating part 52. As shown in FIG. 18 for illustrative purposes there are shown by full lines the inner projections 57 which extend from the mating part 51 and by broken lines the projections 58 that extend from the mating part 52. Using this arrangement, it is possible to form duplicate parts which would not be the case if the projections were arranged to extend from only one of the-parts. Accordingly, openings 59 and 60 are provided in the mating parts 51 and 52 to receive the respective inner projections 57 and 58. As seen in FIG. 22 the inner projection 57 is headed over as indicated at 61 at the distal end to secure the parts 51 and 52 together. The heading over operation is effected through the use of heat and pressure.

The projections 57 and 58 together with the openings 59 and 60 therefor are located along the inner portion of the mating parts 51 and 52. Similar outer projections 63 and 64 are provided in the mating parts 51 and 52 for entry into openings 65 and 66. As shown in FIG. 23 the outer projection 63 extends through the opening 66 and is headed over at its distal end as indicated at 67.

The body member 50, formed by the duplicate mating parts 51 and 52 assembled in the manner described, has such a thickness that it can be inserted in the dust guard well having the width as indicated at 16 with the thickness of the body member 50 being slightly greater than the width 16 so that the desired friction fit with the side walls 55 and 56 is provided while still permitting some freedom of movement to accommodate corresponding movement of the railway car axle 10.

At the upper end of the body member 50 cap attaching portions 69 and 70 are formed integrally with the mating parts 51 and 52. A cap 71 overlies the upper end of the dust guard well 15 and the upper ends of the mating ,parts 51 and 52. The cap 71 can be formed of metal or molded of the material of which the mating parts 51 and 52 are molded. Rivets 72 extend through the cap 71 and the cap attaching portions 69 and 70 to provide an integral construction. The cap 71 has inwardly extending resilient end portions 73 that are arranged to overlie shoulders 74 at the upper ends of the outstanding section 14 of the journal box 13 as shown in FIG. 18. When the body member 50 is applied to the dust guard well 15, the assembly is inserted into the dust guard well 15 and pushed downwardly terminating in a springing outwardly of the inwardly inclined end portions 73 of the metallic cap 71 past the shoulders 74.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 19, and 22 annular rib portions 75 and 76 are formed integrally with the mating parts 51 and 52 on their inner sides so that together they provide a support ring section having a generally T-shaped cross section with the head of the T being located on the side of the seat 11 of the railway car axle 10. The annular rib portions 75 and 76 are formed by arcuate ribs 77 and 78 which have therebetween the inner projections 57 and 58 as the case may be. As shown in FIG. 22 that portion 79 of the annular rib portion 75 opposite the inner projection 57 is shaped so as to conform to the shape of the adjacent respective arcuate rib 77.

Detachably mounted on the support ring section provided by the annular rib portions 75 and 76 is a flexible sealing ring 81. The details of construction of the flexible sealing ring 81 are shown more clearly in FIGS. 19 and 21. Preferably it is formed of a nitrile elastomer which is well suited to resist the heat and wear to which it is likely to be subjected and also it is capable of withstanding the lubricant that is customarily provided in the journal box 13 for lubricating the axle journal 12.

The flexible sealing ring 81 has an outwardly facing clincher section 82 provided with inturned annular beads 83 that are arranged to overlie the arcuate ribs 77 and 78 on the support ring section portions 75'and 76 of the body member 50. This construction facilitates the application of the flexible sealing ring 81 to the support ring on the body member 50 and its removal when replacement becomes necessary.

The flexible sealing ring 81 has an inwardly facing sealing section 84 which is provided with a central. annular bumping surface 85 that is juxtaposed to the seat 11 on the railway car axle I0 and normally is spaced slightly therefrom. The bumping surface 85 is arranged to be engaged by the seat 11 when the railway car axle 1Q shifts its position in the journal box 13 for the purpose of moving the flexible sealing ring .81 and the portions of the body member 50 to which it is attached in corresponding amounts.

It is highly desirable to provide a seal on the side of the central annular bumping surface 85 away from the axle journal 12 in order to limit the escape of lubricant. For this purpose an inner annular sealing lip 86 is provided in tandem with an outer annular sealing lip 87, both being formed integrally with the flexible sealing ring 81. The distal edges of the sealing lips 86 and 87 are rounded for sealing engagement with the seat 11 which ordinarily is covered with a thin layer of lubricant. The flow of lubricant past the central annular bumping surface 85 is facilitated by the provision of transverse grooves .88. Whatever lubricant flows past the annular bumping surface 85 and through the transverse grooves 88 finds its Way into an annular groove 89 of relatively small cross sectional area that is located at the base of the inner sealing lip 86, the bottom of the groove 89 extending radially outwardly further than the annular bumping surface 85. The lubricant collected in the annular groove 89 is permitted to flow through transverse openings 90 in the inner sealing lip 86 that preferably are located in aligned relation with respect to the transverse grooves 88 in the bumping surface 85. The lubricant flows from the annular groove 89 through the transverse openings 90 into an annular groove 91 having a relatively large cross sectional area that is located between the lips 86 and 87. The sealing lips 86 and 87 thus arranged in tandem effectively prevent the entrance of dust, dirt, etc., into the journal box 13 and eifectively prevent the escape of lubricant therefrom.

The dust guard 49 is applied to the dust guard well 15 before the railway car axle 10 is inserted in the journal box 13. Preferably the body member 50 is inserted in the dust guard well 15 without the flexible sealing ring 81, although, if desired, the complete assembly can be inserted as a unit. If the insertion is made without the flexible sealing ring 81 in place, after the body member 50 has been fully inserted into the dust guard well 15, the flexible sealing ring section 81 is applied to the support ring formed by the annular rib port-ions 75- and '76 and the assembly then is complete. Subsequently the railway car axle 10 is applied.

When the flexible sealing ring 81 becomes worn, it can be replaced readily after removal of the railway car axle 10 from the axle journal 12. The worn flexible sealing ring 81 is detached from the annular rib portions 75 and 76 of the support ring section and is replaced by an unworn sealing ring. It is unnecessary to remove the body member 50 from the dust guard well 15. As the railway car axle 10 moves vertically and horizontally with respect to the journal box 13, the flexible sealing ring 81 moves conjointly therewith on engagement of the seat 11 with the central annular bumping surface 85. The relative movement is accommodated by the accordian folds 53 and 54 of the mating parts 51 and 52.

What is claimed as new is:

1. For combination with a railway car journal box having a dust guard well, a railway car axle in said journal box having a seat extending transversely of said dust guard well, and a dust guard body member in said dust guard well around said axle seat having an annular rib T-shaped in cross section with the head portion facing inwardly, means providing a sealing connection between said axle seat and said dust guard body member comprising: a flexible sealing ring having an outwardly facing clincher section for detachably engaging said head portion of said annular rib and an inwardly facing sealing section for sealing engagement with said seat, said sealing section including a cylindrical bumping surface and inner and outer laterally spaced apart annular sealing lips in tandem on one side of said bumping surface with a relatively small cross sectional area annular groove between said bumping surface and said inner sealing lip and a relatively large cross sectional area annular groove between said sealing lips, said bumping surface having a plurality of transversely extending grooves to facilitate flow of lubricant to said small cross sectional area annular groove, there being a plurality of transverse openings through said inner sealing lip placing said inner groove in communication therethrough with said outer groove to provide a reservoir to supply lubricant between the distal edges of said lips and said seat.

2.. For combination with a railway car journal box having a dust guard well, and a railway car axle in said journal box having a seat extending transversely of said dust guard well, a dust guard adapted to be positioned in said dust guard well and around said seat comprising: a. two part body member, each part being generally circular in shape, mating with the other part along the plane of said dust guard well, and providing therewith an annular rib T-shaped in cross section with the head portion fac ing inwardly, each mating part having a plurality of integral projections extending through registering openings in the other part with the distal ends of said projections being headed over to secure said parts together; and a flexible sealing ring having an outwardly facing clincher section detachably engaging said head portion of said annular rib and an inwardly facing sealing section for sealing engagement with said seat.

3. For combination with a railway car journal box having a dust guard well, and a railway car axle in said journal box having a seat extending transversely of said dust guard well, a dust guard adapted to be positioned in said dust guard well and around said seat comprising: a two part body member, each part being generally circular in shape, mating with the other part along the plane of said dust guard well, and providing therewith an annular rib T-shaped in cross section with the head portion facing inwardly, each mating part having a plurality of integral projections extending through registering openings in the other part with the distal ends of said projections being headed over to secure said parts together; and a flexible sealing ring having an outwardly facing clincher section detachably engaging said head portion of said annular rib and an inwardly facing sealing section for sealing engagement with said seat, said sealing section including a cylindrical bumping surface and a pair of laterally spaced apart annular sealing lips in tandem on one side of said bumping surface to provide the sealing engagement with said seat.

4-. For combination with a railway car journal box having a dust guard well, and a railway car axle in said journal box having a seat extending transversely of said dust guard well, a dust guard adapted to be positioned in said dust guard well and around said seat comprising: a two part body member, each part being generally circular in shape, mating with the other part along the plane of said dust guard well, and providing therewith an annular rib T-shaped in cross section with the head portion facing inwardly, each mating part having a plurality of integral projections extending through registering openings in the other part with the distal ends of said projections being headed over to secure said parts together; and a flexible sealing ring having an outwardly facing clincher section detachably engaging said head portion of said annular rib and an inwardly facing sealing section for sealing engagement with said seat, said sealing section including a cylindrical bumping surface and inner and outer laterally spaced apart annular sealing lips in tandem on one side of said bumping surface with a relatively small cross sectional area annular groove between said bumping surface and said inner sealing lip and a relatively large cross sectional area annular groove between said sealing lips, said bumping surface having a plurality of transversely extending grooves to facilitate flow of lubricant to said small cross sectional area annular groove, there being a plurality of transverse openings through said inner sealing lip placing said inner groove in communication with said outer groove to permit flow of lubricant therethrough, whereby said grooves act as lubricant reservoirs to maintain a supply of lubricant adjacent said lips to lubricate the distal edges thereof along said seat and thereby prolong the life of said lips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,241,870 5/1941 Scribner 277 X 2,257,119 9/1941 Johannesen 277l31 2,692,783 10/1954 Foss 277132 3,044,788 7/ 1962 Korn 277-131 3,058,751 10/1962 Cope 277-132 X FOREIGN PATENTS 669,806 9/1963 Canada.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

J. S. MEDNICK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR COMBINATION WITH A RAILWAY CAR JOURNAL BOX HAVING A DUST WELL, A RAILWAY CAR AXLE IN SAID JOURNAL BOX HAVING A SEAT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID DUST GUARD WELL, AND A DUST GUARD BODY MEMBER IN SAID DUST GUARD WELL AROUND SAID AXLE SEAT HAVING AN ANNULAR RIB T-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION WITH THE HEAD PORTION FACING INWARDLY, MEANS PROVIDING A SEALING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID AXLE SEAT AND SAID DUST GUARD BODY MEMBER COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE SEALING RING HAVING AN OUTWARDLY FACING CLINCHER SECTION FRO DETACHABLY ENGAGING SAID HEAD PORTION OF SAID ANNULAR RIB AND AN INWARDLY FACING SEALING SECTION FOR SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEAT, SAID SEALING SECTION INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL BUMPING SURFACE AND INNER AND OUTER LATERALLY SPACED APART ANNULAR SEALING LIPS IN TANDEM ON ONE SIDE OF SAID BUMPING SURFACE WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL CROSS SECTIONAL AREA ANNULAR GROOVE BETWEEN SAID BUMPING SURFACE AND SAID INNER SEALING LIP AND A RELATIVELY LARGE CROSS SECTIONAL AREA ANNULAR GROOVE BETWEEN SAID SEALING LIPS, SAID BUMPING SURFACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING GROOVES TO FACILITATE FLOW OF LUBRICANT TO SAID SMALL CROSS SECTIONAL AREA ANNULAR GROOVE, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE OPENINGS THROUGH SAID INNER SEALING LIP PLACING SAID INNER GROOVE IN COMMUNICATING THERETHROUGH WITH SAID OUTER GROOVE TO PROVIDE A RESERVOIR TO SUPPLY LUBRICANT BETWEEN THE DISTAL EDGES OF SAID LIPS AND SAID SEAT. 